The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Perhaps add Howard Morgan and John Morris?

(06-04-2017 02:29 PM)Old Dominion Wrote:  Coaches -
Head Coach - Blaine Taylor
Assistant - Paul Webb
Assistant - Sonny Allen Won a D-II National Championship. Hard to overlook. Oliver honestly didn't impress me that much. His early history was to achieve a little success then bolt until he hit his ceiling.

I selected Ollie primarily because of his ties to the school, and due to the fact that he recruited guys like West as an assistant.. He helped convince Mark to come to ODU when he was getting offers from coach Terry Holland at UVA. He was also a good coach with the full court press defense (if needed).

I considered Sonny very strongly and loved his style, but didn't envision the team I selected playing his speed and 2-3 zone system. I envisioned it to be more the system played under Paul Webb and Blaine Taylor though with extreme athletes and plenty of half court scoring when the break wasn't there.

Lastly, it isn't about my picks. It is about what everybody's picks are. They are all good, and hard to go wrong with unless you really try.

Don't leave out Stuart McEwen and Nayquan Mitchell. Two good post pieces to use in this fictional squad.

(06-04-2017 05:49 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote:  Chris Gatling and loughton would have to be on the team for me.

Obviously Hodge, Sessoms, Baze and Twardzik.

I'd honestly put Freeman on the team too as a spark plug shooter/scorer off the bench.

Mark West to dominate the boards, Gattison to spread the court and probably Poag if we needed 3 point shooting or to ice a game.

Valentine, Wilson Washington and probably Bowdler to round it out.

Lots of bigs, lots of defense and rebounding.

I'd probably play a lot of 3-2 zone with West and Gatling down low, Baze, Gattison and Twardzik up top with Sessoms and Hodge coming off the bench and Trey to spell Dave.

It would definitely be a strong defensive team when West and Bazemore were in the lineup together. I believe that West led the nation in blocked shots at least twice while at ODU and Bazemore was selected in one poll as the nations best defender.

I'd love to play along with this but unfortunately I've only followed ODU basketball since 2009-2010 (freshman year) so my options are limited and because I never got to see former Monarch legends play my list would be pretty limited haha

(06-05-2017 05:39 AM)MonGNARch Wrote:  I'd love to play along with this but unfortunately I've only followed ODU basketball since 2009-2010 (freshman year) so my options are limited and because I never got to see former Monarch legends play my list would be pretty limited haha

Yeah, your player pool would be pretty small to select from under those circumstances. It takes relatively new people like you to keep the fan base going so us guys that have been around a bit longer welcome you on board. I truly wish that many others like yourself could have seen some of those players from just before ODU transitioned to Division (like Twardzik) and just after (like West).

(06-05-2017 06:10 AM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  

(06-05-2017 05:39 AM)MonGNARch Wrote:  I'd love to play along with this but unfortunately I've only followed ODU basketball since 2009-2010 (freshman year) so my options are limited and because I never got to see former Monarch legends play my list would be pretty limited haha

Yeah, your player pool would be pretty small to select from under those circumstances. Iit takes relatively new people like you to keep the fan base going so us guys that have been around a bit longer welcome you on board. I truly wish that many others like yourself could have seen some of those players from just before ODU transitioned to Division (like Twardzik) and just after (like West).

Fortunately for me I saw 2 NCAA tournament appearances in my first two years so the pride I have for ODU basketball runs deep. I would have loved to have seen or at least been a fan of ODU basketball before I attended though

I'm a little biased being younger and not an ODU fan until the Loughton era so I am sure some of these are wrong.

Starters -
- Mark West
(PF) - Odell Hodge
(SF) - Ben Finney
(SG) - Kent Bazemore
(PG) - Ahmad Caver

2nd Team -
- Wilson Washington
(PF) - Alex Loughton
(SF) - Petey Sessoms
(SG) - Trey Freeman
(PG) - Drew Williamson

Reserves -
(PF) - Valdas Vasylius
(PF) - Arnaud Dahi
(SF) Ronnie Valentine
(PG) - Brandon Johnson
(SG) - Isaiah Hunter

(06-04-2017 10:35 PM)Jackie Moon Wrote:  Don't leave out Stuart McEwen and Nayquan Mitchell. Two good post pieces to use in this fictional squad.

- Sam Harris
(PF) - Janko Mrsik
(SF) - Jason Thompson
(SG) - John Morris
(PG) - Marquel Delancey

I don't believe I've seen Ronnie McAdoo mentioned. Great scorer and rebounder. One of the best.

(06-05-2017 09:00 AM)monarchist Wrote:  I don't believe I've seen Ronnie McAdoo mentioned. Great scorer and rebounder. One of the best.

Crap I forgot about McAdoo. Great choice.
I didn't have Ben Finney either, another great choice.

(06-05-2017 07:47 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  I'm a little biased being younger and not an ODU fan until the Loughton era so I am sure some of these are wrong.

Starters -
- Mark West
(PF) - Odell Hodge
(SF) - Ben Finney
(SG) - Kent Bazemore
(PG) - Ahmad Caver

2nd Team -
- Wilson Washington
(PF) - Alex Loughton
(SF) - Petey Sessoms
(SG) - Trey Freeman
(PG) - Drew Williamson

Reserves -
(PF) - Valdas Vasylius
(PF) - Arnaud Dahi
(SF) Ronnie Valentine
(PG) - Brandon Johnson
(SG) - Isaiah Hunter

That's a strong team, no doubt about that. There is no right or wrong choices as long as they are reasonable choices. Since you mention that you are younger, another very good player that you may have watched is Gerald Lee.

(06-05-2017 11:12 AM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  

(06-05-2017 09:00 AM)monarchist Wrote:  I don't believe I've seen Ronnie McAdoo mentioned. Great scorer and rebounder. One of the best.

Crap I forgot about McAdoo. Great choice.
I didn't have Ben Finney either, another great choice.

Has anyone mentioned AC Carver (Aaron's dad)? He was a very good player that didn't have much of a supporting cast around him. Probably would have had even better stats if he had better players with him to keep the defense from concentrating on him so much.

(06-05-2017 12:23 PM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  

(06-05-2017 07:47 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  I'm a little biased being younger and not an ODU fan until the Loughton era so I am sure some of these are wrong.

Starters -
- Mark West
(PF) - Odell Hodge
(SF) - Ben Finney
(SG) - Kent Bazemore
(PG) - Ahmad Caver

2nd Team -
- Wilson Washington
(PF) - Alex Loughton
(SF) - Petey Sessoms
(SG) - Trey Freeman
(PG) - Drew Williamson

Reserves -
(PF) - Valdas Vasylius
(PF) - Arnaud Dahi
(SF) Ronnie Valentine
(PG) - Brandon Johnson
(SG) - Isaiah Hunter

That's a strong team, no doubt about that. There is no right or wrong choices as long as they are reasonable choices. Since you mention that you are younger, another very good player that you may have watched is Gerald Lee.

Absolutely. I thought Loughton was the marginally better finesse-type PF while Dahi and VV were more bruisers. If I had to take out one it would be Dahi, but I think Dahi had the most potential out of the 3 (why I included him) if not for the ACL tear hampering his senior year. But yeah, I would certainly be fine to substitute Gerald Lee for any of them.

I also went on a limb putting Caver as the starting PG. He hasn't proven it yet, but if he continues to develop from where he was toward the end of the last season, I think he might be our best PG ever. Of course Drew was great more on a game management level and aside from Nance and the Villanova 3OT game I watched as a adolescent and UNC fan, I really didn't see anyone older play.

Same with Finney. He is really the only true SF aside from Talley I have seen at ODU so I put him on 1st team and copied others on the other teams. We typically play SGs at that position.

Starters -
C - Mark West
(PF) - Odell Hodge
(SF) - Petey Sessoms
(SG) - Trey Freeman
(PG) - Frank Smith

2nd Team -
- Wilson Washington
(PF) - Alex Loughton
(SF) - Ronnie McAdoo
(SG) - Mike Jones
(PG) - Drew Williamson

Reserves -
(PF) - Kenny Gattison
(PF) - Arnaud Dahi
(SF) Ronnie Valentine
(PG) - Grant Robinson
(SG) - Charlie Smith

No reason, just whim

Dave Twardzik was an NBA all-star and the only Monarch to ever win an NBA title.

He's our starting PG all day, every day.

I initially narrowed down to 20:

Wilson Washington F
Ronnie Valentine F
Mark West C
Kenny Gattison F
Dave Twardzik G
Keith Thomas G
Anthony Carver F
Chris Gatling F/C
Keith Jackson G
Ricardo Leonard F
Petey Sessoms G/F
Odell Hodge F
Mark Poag G/F
Cal Bowdler C
Alex Loughton F
Drew Williamson G
Kent Bazemore F
Frank Smith G
Frank Hassell C
Trey Freeman G

Starting:

Mark West C
Ronnie Valentine F
Kenny Gattison F
Kent Bazemore G
Dave Twardzik G

Bench:
Wilson Washington C
Anthony Carver F
Chris Gatling F
Frank Smith G
Petey Sessoms G/F
Keith Jackson G
Mark Poag G
Odell Hodge F

Just left out:
Keith Thomas G
Ricardo Leonard F
Cal Bowdler C
Alex Loughton F
Drew Williamson G
Frank Hassell C
Trey Freeman G

(06-05-2017 01:34 PM)Razor Ramon Monarch Wrote:  Dave Twardzik was an NBA all-star and the only Monarch to ever win an NBA title.

He's our starting PG all day, every day.

People that see Dave sitting court side next to Ted doing the radio broadcast and were not fortunate enough to ever see him play would probably never guess what a special player Dave was at ODU.

He wore white knee pads on both knees while at ODU because he was constantly using his quickness and dribbling ability to drive deep into the lane and would frequently get knocked to the floor by one of the bigger players. He picked up numerous fouls on the other team by doing that, and also made a large number of assists by drawing the bigger man into him and dishing off to the teammate that was now left alone under the basket. He was a good foul shooter and could knock down the outside shot. On top of that he had that will to win mentality. If the 3 point line had been in the game at that time his scoring stats would no doubt be even higher than they are.

I enjoyed watching him play for ODU, the Virginia Squires, and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Only going to use Monarchs I saw play in person.

1st Team:
Drew Williamson
Petey Sessoms
Alex Loughton
Odell Hodge
Trey Freeman

Off the Bench:
Issaiah Hunter
Mark Poag
Mike Jones
Kent Bazemore
Cal Bowdler
Gerald Lee
Arnaud Dahi
Ricardo Leonard

(06-05-2017 02:28 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I initially narrowed down to 20:

Wilson Washington F
Ronnie Valentine F
Mark West C
Kenny Gattison F
Dave Twardzik G
Keith Thomas G
Anthony Carver F
Chris Gatling F/C
Keith Jackson G
Ricardo Leonard F
Petey Sessoms G/F
Odell Hodge F
Mark Poag G/F
Cal Bowdler C
Alex Loughton F
Drew Williamson G
Kent Bazemore F
Frank Smith G
Frank Hassell C
Trey Freeman G

Starting:

Mark West C
Ronnie Valentine F
Kenny Gattison F
Kent Bazemore G
Dave Twardzik G

Bench:
Wilson Washington C
Anthony Carver F
Chris Gatling F
Frank Smith G
Petey Sessoms G/F
Keith Jackson G
Mark Poag G
Odell Hodge F

Just left out:
Keith Thomas G
Ricardo Leonard F
Cal Bowdler C
Alex Loughton F
Drew Williamson G
Frank Hassell C
Trey Freeman G

You likely would have won a national championship this season with that team. Who would your 3 coaches be?

I actually saw 6'-7" Ronnie Valentine play in high school (Norfolk Catholic) about a month or so before he was recruited/signed by ODU. I didn't know at the time that they were recruiting him but when I read he was going to ODU I was so excited because I had seen in person what an outstanding shooter he was. For some reason he didn't start in the high school game but came in after about 5 minutes. He posted up at the foul line (high post) nearly every time down the court and even without the ball was being double teamed. Once he caught it with his back to the basket, he would simply turn, elevate, and shoot. Bang .... Bang .... Bang ... all game long. I don't recall him missing a shot that game and ended up scoring 20 - 30. He had a very flat shot - the exact opposite of BJ Stith's - and it would usually either hit the upper back part of the net as it was falling in or hit the back of the hoop and go in much quicker. He pretty much averaged a double/double (points & rebounds) for his career at ODU, and scored in double figures in over 100 consecutive games!!! I'm pretty sure that he's on a short list of players that have ever scored over 40 points in a game at ODU, and I think he may have done it more than once.